Hillman

The Hillman Minx was introduced in October 1931 as a compact and affordable family car produced by the British manufacturer Hillman, part of the Rootes Group. Designed to compete in the growing lower-middle segment, the Minx quickly became one of Hillman’s most important models. Early versions featured conventional engineering, including a separate chassis, rear-wheel drive and a four-cylinder side-valve engine. The car evolved through several series during the 1930s, gradually receiving updated styling, improved suspension and more powerful engines. Available in a wide variety of body styles such as saloon, tourer and drophead coupé, the Minx appealed to a broad market. Production resumed after the Second World War with further updated versions, and by the late 1940s the Minx had firmly established itself as a dependable and widely recognised British family car.

A completely redesigned Hillman Minx appeared in May 1956 with the introduction of the so-called Audax series. Styled by Raymond Loewy’s design studio in the United States, the new model adopted a modern transatlantic look with tailfins, a wider grille and a lower, more streamlined body. The Audax Minx was built on a monocoque structure and used a front-mounted four-cylinder engine driving the rear wheels through a four-speed gearbox. Over time the model evolved through several series, gaining larger engines, improved interiors and optional features such as overdrive and automatic transmission. The platform also formed the basis for several related Rootes Group models, including the Singer Gazelle and Sunbeam Rapier. 

The Hillman Super Minx is a slightly larger version of the Hillman Minx. Announced in October 1961, the Super Minx gave Rootes an expanded presence in the upper reaches of the family car market. It has been suggested that the Super Minx design was originally intended to replace and not merely to supplement, the standard Minx, but was found to be too big for that purpose. An estate car joined the range in May 1962 and a two-door convertible in June 1962. The convertible never sold in significant numbers: the last one was made in June 1964. In September 1964, the Super Minx was facelifted, with the launch of the Mark III. The wrap-around rear window gave way to a new design with larger side windows. The windscreen was also made taller and the roof-line flatter.